In a commendation of the new Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration led by Minister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Senator Shehu Sani expressed his satisfaction with the efforts to expose corruption during the previous FCT administration.
Sani highlighted various issues that plagued Abuja under the previous leadership, including rising crime rates, malfunctioning street lights, inflated contracts, abandoned metro projects, conversion of residential areas to commercial spaces, poor services, and the degradation of green areas. He applauded the new FCT administration for bringing these issues to light and wished them success in their endeavors.
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“The shocking revelation coming out of the FCT Ministry shows that Abuja was wrecked and massively defrauded under the last administration:they left behind a Rising crime wave,dead street lights,inflated contracts,abandoned metro,indiscriminate conversion of residential areas to shopping malls and Hotels,poor services & desecration of Green areas.On this, I commend the exposure of this disaster.I wish the new FCT administration more success,” the former lawmaker wrote.
However, the office of the FCT minister, in a statement made available to Freelanews and through its spokesperson Anthony Ogunleye, has debunked viral reports that Minister Wike intends to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the former FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.
Ogunleye clarified that Minister Wike, during routine inspections of various projects within the FCT, expressed concerns and frustrations regarding observed irregularities in procurement and execution. However, he emphasized that at no point did Wike contemplate or authorize any action to invite the EFCC or ICPC to investigate the former FCT Minister or any other matters.
FCTA PRESS STATEMENT
RE: FALSE ONLINE MEDIA REPORTS REGARDING ALLEGED INVITATION OF EFCC AND ICPC TO INVESTIGATE FORMER FCT MINISTER
1. The Office of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister wishes to address recent online media reports that have surfaced, claiming that the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike plans to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the immediate past FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, in relation to certain irregularities in the award of contracts and other such matters.
2. We categorically and unequivocally state that these reports are entirely baseless and without any merit whatsoever. The FCT Minister, during his routine inspections of various projects within the FCT, has indeed expressed concerns and frustrations regarding irregularities observed in the procurement and execution of certain projects, amongst other observations which he very publicly expressed.
3. However, at no point did he contemplate or authorize any action by anyone within or outside the FCT Administration to invite the EFCC or ICPC to investigate the former FCT Minister in connection with these or any other matters.
4. The online story in question is nothing more than a product of the imagination of its authors and is clearly designed to mischievously sow discord and confusion among the general public.
5. We view such misinformation with great concern and urge the public and well-meaning Nigerians to exercise caution and discernment when encountering such unfounded reports.
6. The FCT Minister remains focused on his responsibilities to ensure the efficient and transparent administration of the Federal Capital Territory. Any actions or decisions taken by the FCTA in this regard will be communicated through official channels and in accordance with due process.
7. We hereby advise the general public to disregard the story in its entirety, as it is nothing but a deliberate attempt to spread fake news and create unnecessary tensions.
8. Barrister Nyesom Wike remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability in the discharge of his duties and remains committed to building the FCT of our collective dreams.
ANTHONY OGUNLEYE
DIRECTOR OF PRESS
(OFFICE OF THE FCT MINISTER)
09/09/2023
FCTA/ODP/PR/422
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
